Ballister, in a short-sleeve jail-issued khaki shirt, spoke extremely politely to Gross during the brief hearing that lasted fewer than five minutes.

"Yes ma'am. Nice to meet you," Ballister said, when the judge first called his name. Ballister stood behind a Plexiglas barrier, his wrists in handcuffs, tattoos visible on both forearms.

Gross, in response to a question from Ballister, explained he would be permitted to post a bond to meet his $2 million bail, and was not required to post cash.

April Wyckoff, 43, of Cranford.Schenesky family, from Facebook

Braun said he was appearing on behalf of Ballister's attorney Miles Feinstein of Clifton, who was ill and unable to make the court hearing. Braun said he did not know if Ballister intended to make bail.

The balding, white-haired Ballister is accused of killing April Wyckoff, also 43, of Cranford. Authorities said Wyckoff died from blunt force trauma in Ballister's home some time Tuesday night.

Police from several jurisdictions worked from early Friday through the weekend searching for Wyckoff's body at a sections of Essex, Hudson and Union counties.

Authorities today confirmed that human remains found in an industrial area in Newark on Sunday have been identified as belonging to Wyckoff. Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park said investigators are continuing to search for additional human remains.

Wyckoff, who was divorced from her husband in 2010, lived in Cranford with her 23-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter.